Kentucky passes bill banning abortion after 20 weeks

Kentucky lawmakers have voted in favor of a bill that will ban abortion after 20 weeks. The bill successfully cleared both the Kentucky state House and Senate, and was then sent to Governor Matt Bevin, who quickly signed it into law. Thanks to an emergency clause written into the bill, it will be effective immediately.

Governor Matt Bevin (2015-2019)

@GovMattBevin

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Signed several transformative & historic bills into law last night. Thank you, Ky, for electing people who hit the ground running.

6:26 PM · Jan 8, 2017

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Unlike many late-term abortion bans, this bill will not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Abortions after 20 weeks will only be permitted if the mother’s life is in danger, and excludes mental illness. In December, Ohio also passed a 20-week abortion ban, becoming the 18th state in the country to do so. In addition to banning abortion after 20 weeks, Kentucky’s bill would also, according to the AP, “require women to have an ultrasound by a doctor or technician prior to having an abortion” and “must also include a detailed description of the fetus and playing the fetal heartbeat.” However, the AP notes that “[w]omen are not required to watch the ultrasound and can request to have the volume of the heartbeat turned down.”

Predictably, the abortion lobby was furious about the passing of this bill:

ACLU

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Kentucky's attempts to ban abortions at 20 weeks is cruel, dangerous, and poses a serious threat to women’s health huffingtonpost.com/entry/kentucky…

7:27 PM · Jan 6, 2017

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Reproductive Freedom for All

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The 20-week abortion ban passed by Kentucky's Senate today has NO exemptions for rape, incest or mental illness. buff.ly/2iNNZPJ

12:03 AM · Jan 6, 2017

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Center for Reproductive Rights

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Hey, anti-choice politicians: Get your hands off OUR reproductive choices. bit.ly/2iNvWqi

7:12 PM · Jan 8, 2017

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Raw Story

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Kentucky #GOP files new abortion ban: The only ‘choice’ women have is ‘to conceive or not conceive’ ow.ly/egO9307GphR

4:31 PM · Jan 4, 2017

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Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates - East

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SB5, an unconstitutional 20 week abortion ban, was the first bill @GovMattBevin signed into law in 2017. #WeAreKy #WeWontGoBack #kyga17

Governor Matt Bevin (2015-2019)

@GovMattBevin

History was made today, Kentucky. #WeAreKY

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8:30 PM · Jan 8, 2017

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While the abortion industry consistently fights each time a state proposes a ban, the reality is, Americans support banning late-term abortion. Americans have overwhelmingly supported banning second trimester abortion over the years, and even “pro-choice” Americans support banning abortion after the first trimester.

In addition to public support for 20-week abortion bans, legislators who vote in favor of them are also on the side of science. We know now that preborn babies can feel pain by 20 weeks, although it may be much sooner. And that makes second trimester abortions — such as a dilation and evacuation procedure, outlined here by former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino — even more horrific:

2nd Trimester Surgical Abortion: Dilation and Evacuation (D & E)

Late-term abortions are cruel and are never necessary. These Kentucky lawmakers should be applauded for protecting the lives of preborn babies, as well as their mothers, from having to undergo such a violent, barbaric act.